Hundreds of victims of a devastating fire that ripped through Mandela Park in Khayelitsha a few weeks ago on Tuesday received some much-needed supplies from disaster relief organisations Muslim Hands South Africa.
The organisation partnered with recently appointed ambassador, and world famous Kung Fu champion Junaid Chafeker, aka MJ Li.
Yesterday, at Nomsa Primary School, they handed over 180 hot plate stoves, 180 blankets, 1000 litres of bottled water to the 180 families who lost everything in the fire.
Chafeker, who has been working with disadvantaged youth for many years, also did a martial arts demonstration to much appreciation from residents.
“This is probably my most important school visit out of the 102 I’ve done since coming back from the World Champs,” he says.
“It was one of substance, to assist our local communities in the true spirit of ubuntu, especially after the recent disaster.”
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The destitute families have, with the help of the City of Cape Town and Muslim Hands, been rebuilding their homes while Eskom has also installed electricity.
Community leader Mr Malanga said they are in phase 2 of their rebuilding.
“We are grateful to Muslim Hands for this assistance and we really thank M.J.Li for coming to visit the kids at school, they view him as a hero,” he says.
Patience Tsonga, a fire victim who lost everything, said she was overwhelmed.
“After the fire I was left with nothing, so thank you to Muslim Hands for caring,” she says.
Sheikh Hashim, a project manager for Muslim Hands, told residents: “This is part of what we do, assisting not only with emergency relief but also with rebuilding.”